Brown Thornbill

Acanthiza pusilla ‡

Cams Farm Reserve, NE NSW IMG_4856 20220613 - pusilla note dark red iris, dark streaking on breast & throat,
rufous-tinged forehead w. cream scalloping. CLICK for another.

Notes: Nominate pusilla has rufous-tinged forehead w. cream scalloping, dark streaking on throat
& breast, grey-brown tail w. narrow black sub-terminal band. Ssp dawsonensis has finer breast
streaks. Ssp zietzi has longer bill, paler forehead markings, less rufous-tinged uppertail-coverts.
Ssp diemenensis is larger w. longer wing & bill, rusty forehead w. scalloping maybe to forecrown.
Ssp archbaldi/magnirostris has much longer bill, forehead & forecrown more rufous & unmarked.

Range from Morcombe & Stewart©
Bear Gully Campground, SE Vic IMG_8684 20211124 - pusilla note dark red iris, dark streaking on breast & throat,
rufous-tinged forehead w. cream scalloping. Beauchamp Falls Camp, SC Vic IMG_7149 20241128 - pusilla. CLICK for one on Foreshore, Black Rock, Melbourne,
SC Vic 20191129 Clarksdale Bird Sanctuary, nr Linton, SW Vic IMG_3774 20240105 - pusilla CLICK for anothe pic. Tarra-Bulga NP, SE Vic IMG_4206 20190302 - pusilla juvenile has yellow gape - not evident here and very rufous. Dalrymple Heights, Eungella, NE Qld IMG_2276 20200811 - dawsonensis shorter tarsus, slightly brighter above, paler below. Diggings Road, Eungella, NE Qld IMG_2493 20200812 - dawsonensis is smaller, has broader white edges of retrices. Snug Caravan Park, SE Tas IMG_6948 20210607 - diemenensis is larger, has longer bill, rusty forehead, paler greyer
upperparts. CLICK for a second pic. Blackman's Lagoon, NE Tas IMG_5193 20170402 - diemenensis upperparts paler, greyer. American River, Kangaroo Isl, SE SA IMG_2792 20241027 - zietzi paler forehead, longer bill. CLICK for another pic. Lappa Road, Pegarah State Forest, SE King Island, Tas IMG_2092 20211217 - archibaldi very long bill (~16mm
cf 11–13mm for diemenensis), pale edges to primaries, buff flanks. CLICK for another pic. Clarksdale Bird Sanctuary, nr Linton, SW Vic IMG_3807+3805+3806 20240105 - pusilla feeding. Rickett's Point, Beaumaris, S Vic IMG_3355 20230711 - pusilla Diggings Road, Eungella, NE Qld IMG_2498+2499+2501 20200812 - dawsonensis